In the run-up to the big October 1st National Day celebrations, the Chinese Communist Party is working hard to limit historical debate – even history that long pre-dates the PRC. They are trying to ban a book that is apparently going on sale in Hong Kong next week. Early descriptions suggest that Chinese History Revisited, by Xiao Jiansheng, takes a long view:
It explores thousands of years of Chinese civilisation without dwelling directly on the controversies of the last six decades.
But
even so, Chinese History Revisited has been deemed too sensitive ahead
of next week's 60th anniversary of Communist party rule. Its author,
who saw his work banned on the mainland two years ago, has come under
pressure to stop next week's publication in Hong Kong. Books outlawed
by Beijing are often issued in the territory.
Why would this kind of book strike fear in the hearts of CCP functionaries? Because it raises questions that could be extended to the contemporary period:
"It's just discussing why China's politics, from the very beginning to
now, has not gone through a transition from centralisation to
pluralism," he added.
They don't want anyone getting the idea that it might be possible, or even historically appropriate, to make a transition to pluralism.
South China Morning Post (sorry, the story is behind a subscription wall) has more to say:
His book reflects on how
traditional Chinese teaching, with its emphasis on obedience to
authority, and the centralisation of power had caused the decline of
Chinese civilisation – and its need of diversity, openness and an
outward-looking environment. It was well received by academics and
impressed the China Social Science Press (CSSP) – the publish arming
arm of the academy, which planned to publish it in 2007.
Chen Biao, a CSSP editor who was in charge of Xiao's book, recalls what happened next.
"We had everything ready for publication. We had done the
proof-reading, printing, advertising and even started to take
pre-orders. The academy leadership suddenly called and asked us to stop
distributing the book," he said yesterday.
"To be frank, I don't find anything wrong in the book. It's a great
book that offers critical reflection on Chinese culture and thinking."
That critical reflection thing can be dangerous. The apparatchiks are letting their inner Legalism show. But maybe they should be scared:
"Chinese civilisation lacks self-reflection. That's why books like The Ugly Chinese and River Elegy were
banned. Books like this could wake up Chinese people's democratic
consciousness," Hu Xingdou , a political scientist at the Beijing
University of Technology, said.
They want to keep things tidy for the big parade.
The Useless Tree 
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